Aubain Ballpark Facility Photo Credit: OFFICE OF DISASTER RECOVERY
The Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation has been obligated $306,950 to refurbish the Aubain Ballpark Facility, the Office of Disaster Recovery has announced. O.D.R. said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through its Public Assistance Program (PA), will fund the refurbishment of the ballpark located in the center of Frenchtown on the western end of Charlotte Amalie.
O.D.R. described the park as a mainstay of the Frenchtown community, hosting events such as Bastille Day, the Father’s Day Village, the Christmas Festival of Lights Competition, various sporting activities, and youth initiatives.
Since the hurricanes in 2017, DSPR received donations to temporarily repair portions of the facility so that it can be safely utilized but, this obligation will be used to reconstruct the park’s facilities, according to the release.
“The Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation continues to work diligently to return all park facilities to their pre-disaster condition,” said the DSPR Commissioner Calvert White. “The DSPR thanks ODR, FEMA, and the community for their unwavering support.”
The scoreboard, field lighting, covered bleachers, dugouts, press building, concession stand, fencing, and batting cage will all be replaced. The park’s renovations will also include the restoration of 5,500 square feet of playground space.
“The Office of Disaster Recovery has been working closely with FEMA to award funding to restore the territories recreational facilities,” said Adrienne L. Williams-Octalien, ODR Director. “This award follows on the heels of recent obligations to renovate the Emile Griffith Ballpark, Cramers Park, St. John Community Center, and Fort Frederik Beach. The ODR thanks our federal partners for these recent allocations to refurbish communal recreation sites. Rebuilding local parks will return a sense of stability to communities damaged by the 2017 storms.”
The Department of Sports Parks and Recreation will be issuing solicitations to engage a contractor to repair the facilities. Solicitation and other pertinent recovery information can be found by visiting http://www.usviodr.com/.
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